Top 5 Running Backs

This class is phenomenal. It took me a long time to create this top five list because there is so much talent in this position group. I think any team can find a viable running back candidate in almost any round of the draff. That being said, here is my top five of the 2025 draft class.

5) Dylan Sampson. This guy reminds me a lot of Alvin Kamara at Tennessee. I’m not comparing him or saying he will be as good as Kamara was, but his patience and decisiveness of cuts in his tape is spectacular. He has phenomenal balance control and is not afraid of contact in the box. His ability to navigate through traffic and see where the defense lies is a skill that is hard to teach. He brings a burst of explosiveness to his ground game and can pass protect well. He is a model running back, that does the things you would want in a running back. Now, there are some negatives in Sampson’s game that keeps him from being higher on the list. For one, he is a little undersized as a prospect, coming in at 5’11, weighing 201 lbs. While he is a physical back, the jump to NFL strength will be a challenge. Next, he was seldomly used out of the backfield in the passing game, ending his career with only 39 catches. And finally, his ball security was not great this year, as he lost four fumbles. Fumbles will kill a career in the NFL, so that is probably his biggest concern. There are obviously some other things that need work, like picking up blitz packages, not getting too cute with cuts, but all that can be improved on. Sampson is a great running back who will give you value in the late first round.

4) Treveyon Henderson. Between Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, the OSU backfield had some firepower this year. Judkins is phenomenal, and it was difficult to leave him out of the top 5, but I believe there is something special with Henderson. Judkins is more of a power back, whereas Henderson possesses that breakaway, home-run speed. Think kind of like Jahmyr Gibbs. He has beautiful change in pace and patience to allow a lane/blocking to form for him. His eyes are constantly up, looking into the second level with an absurd level of anticipation. He has great hands and is not afraid to catch the ball. He is just the perfect mix of speed and power, whereas his fellow back Judkins is more straight power. I think you could’ve had Judkins here instead of Henderson and I wouldn’t be mad, but it’s that versatility that pushes him through. His biggest concern in his lack of size as well, and his role as a primary back, as in 2022 and 2023 he missed large portions of the season due to injury when being the primary back. Henderson is a fully loaded prospect. Stay healthy and he should be good for a while.

3) Kaleb Johnson. This back is special. Kaleb Johnson is special. For his larger frame and size, he has got a speed and ability to him that seems to be lacking in bigger backs. Johnson’s ability to plant and go is second to none, which highlights his running IQ and vision as a runner. He is a big physical back that does not shy away from contact, he almost invites it like Judkins. He has been Iowa’s guy. He is a workhorse that has been proven to handle the large workload over the course of his career. He is also a reliable pass catcher, effectively showing up in the screen and short pass game. Where his game needs improvement is in areas like his overall speed, as while he’s got speed, sometimes it’s not enough and he gets caught from behind. He will also need to work on running different routes, as he mostly saw swings and checkdowns. He also needs to work on some horizontal agility, as he is a very downhill runner that needs to work off the edge when the lane is jammed. Johnson will not disappoint to wherever he goes. All his issues can be worked on because getting a proven workhorse is rare.

2) Omarion Hampton. There are some, who believe that Hampton is the best running back in the class, and I can see why. He’s a big back that invites contact but can get skinny and fit through a lane when given. He has phenomenal speed hitting the hole, and he can drive his hips and legs through all his runs. Downhill in all the right ways. He is a great pass blocker and is not afraid of the bigger guy. He is one of, if not the most well rounded back in this class. Between his lane speed, anticipation, physicality, and agility, he has all the tangibles. He will need to work on his end speed as he, like many other bigger backs, get caught from behind. I think picking up blitzes won’t be hard for him in the NFL, but the timing in which he does needs to be sharpened to utilize his natural size in the best way. Congratulations to anyone who selects Hampton, you got yourself a stud.

1) Ashton Jeanty. What do I need to say about Jeanty that hasn’t been said already? Everything you would dream of in a perfect NFL running back, Jeanty has. He is a generational talent that will make an immediate impact in the run game for any team that takes him. I think he could obviously falter with a bad offensive line, but we will get there when we get there. Negatives first. He is arguably slightly undersized, only coming in at only 5’9. Coming from the workload he had in college; his touches may be more limited going into the NFL which could hinder his production. And in the instances for fighting for extra yards, Jeanty needs to make sure he holds onto the ball more securely than he has in the past. Now, all those things are nit-picky at best. This guy is a powerful runner with finishing speed and a vision that in unparallel. He is exceptional in the pass game, elite in protection, and can make a house call from anywhere on the field. He is constantly, breaking tackles, rarely going down on the first two hits. There is everything right about Jeanty and very little to worry about. He is the total package. It was fun to watch him in college, it’s going to be more fun in the NFL.